Turbine and regulating means therefor.



N0.'8'62,187. PATENTED AUG. 6, 190% I I. P. NIKONOW.

TURBINE AND REGULATING MEANS THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.16.1906.

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No. 862,187. PATENIED AUG. 6, 1907.- J. P. NIKONOW.

TURBINE AND REGULATING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION IILED SEPT. 15,1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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APPLIOATIOF FILED SEPT. 15. 1906.

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TURBINE AND REG-ULATING MEANS THEREFOR.

Application filed fseptember 15,1906. Serial No- 334,710.

To all whom it may conce n:

30 it known that I, Jenn P. NIKONOW, a subject or the Czar of Russia, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Turbines and Regulating Means 'lherefor, of which the following is a specification. x

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in turbines of either the reaction or impulse type and the aim of the inventionis to develop a double turbine unit, the invention being comprehended in a turbine structure embodying two main parts each of which is capable of working separately or both together, under the automatic and common regulation' ol a main throttling valve and centrifugalor other governor, both parts being connected and disc-on nocted automatically by means of controlling valve, all as will be hereinafter fully described. I

A, lurther object of the invention is to provide an improved means whereby the turbine will be efficient and able to withstand any work up to an overload.

It is well known that turbines as ordinarily constructed, when running under light load, say below one-half the normal, have usually very low eiiieiency, due to the fact that the steam is throttled before admittance-into the first rotary disk with blades, This dccrcase in the kinetic elficiency is overcome and compensated for in my turbine owing to the fact that steam is admitted with full pressure under full load in both parts of the turbine and under one-half load (and below) under full load in one part only of the turbine, the elficiency thus being very high for very large working limits.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference. is to be had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a turbine of the reaction type, embodying the improvements of my invention, the rovolublo'parts being shown in side elevation or in outline. Fig. 2.is a transverse sectional view on the line .rx0f Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the solenoid for elevating one of the valves, and its conconiitant parts. Fig. e is a partial side elevation and a partial section of a turbine oi the impulse type embodying the improvements of my invention. Figs. 5 and (i are transverse sectional views thereof on the lines y-y and z-z respectively of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation of the valve chest illustrated in Fig. 4 Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of some of the blades of the impulse turbine illustrated in Fig. 4.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the wgrm gear shown.

the drawings by the same referencecharacters.

,Referringto the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the turbine case through the endsof'which the driving Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

boxings or bearings 3 and orie end of the shaft being extended in the thrust bearing 4 that is susceptible of regulation by means of screws 5 or similar devices, so that the entire revolving part oi the turbine may be adjusted properly relatively to the stationary part or case.

through which the shaft. extends, and 7 designates passages for the admission of. water or other cooling medium, supplied from any desired source, (not shown).

two separate parts, designated A and B respectively. The stuiliug channels insure that the steam shall not pass from one part or' the turbine into the other, except as hereinafter prescribed. Each of'these separate parts of the turbine includes two sets ol revoluble blades,

other and the larger set being located outermost, the

zt of smaller diameter being designated 9 and the larger set 10, in both parts of the turbine respectively. And the ca. is, as best shown in Fig. 1, shaped to accurately accommodate the respective sets of blades of different diameters. The steam chest llv is divided by the wall 12 into two compartments and D, and the compartment l) is in direct and open communication with the steam in the pipe lb. 111 the wall or partition [2 a port is formed to establish CO]lll]llllll(LLl.-lflll between the compartment D and the compartnientf] and for the purpose of controlling this communication, l have provided and fits within the port and is provided with a stemlo secured at its upper end to'the bell crane: lover ll). This in turn is connected byineans of the lougitudiiutlly extensible link 17 with another bell crank .l 8 fulcruinod on the upwardly eXtending arm of a frame or bracket 19, and "the boll crank 18 has one. of its two arms pivotally connected-to the l ever 20 at one end, the other cu d of said lever being directly connected to the collar of the cei-itrilugal governor or regulator 21, which automatically actuates the valve let to admit'for any given load the necessary volumev of steani'in the compartment U of the steam chest. in ordei to ovmcoinc or avoid standing still friction of the. governing mechanism loading to the valve M i provide the depending arm 22 which has a strap 23 encircling aireecentric on the drive shaft 2, so that as the shalt rotates, the valve 1 will be caused tocontinuously pulsate or vibrate within its seat. If desired, a rod 24 may engage the same eccentric as the arm 22 for the purpose of operating a water pump. The shaft of the centrifugal governor or regulator 2.1 is engaged with the dri ve shaft 2 in the usual. manner as by The compartment U of the steam chest serves fr )1 both parts A and ll of the turbine, but the only open ports shaft 2 extends, the ends of said shaft being journaled in 6 designates stuffing boxes in the ends of the case,

The case 1 is provided intermediate of its ends and 7 preferably at its middle with a solid portion or partition '8 containing stuiiing channels and dividing the case into between stationary blades one set being larger than the 1 the puppet valve lu l, which is cup shaperhas shown. 7

same will pass freely into the chamber 26. thence intothe series of blades 9 and through the same and thence in expansion, through thelar ger series oi blades 10, tinally passing intothe exhaust chamber 27 and out through the exhaust port 28 into the condenser (not shown). In passing from the high pressure series of blades- 9 to t he low pressure series 10, the steam enters the low pressure chamber 29 which is in communica: tion with the annular channel30 around the smaller series of packing channels, by means of the cross passage 31. i I

As both parts A and B of my improved turbine are essentially similar, differing only in the automatic means for coupling them together or disconnecting one from the other, 1 have deemed it necessary l'o describe onlyl'he part A, with respect to its revoluble elements and interior arrangements.

From the description up to this point, it is evident that the axial pull produced by thesteam in the reaction turbine when only one part is working, is counterbalanced by the surface of the packing channels which are equal in diameter to the turbine steam chamber 26* and the surface of the first blades of the high pressure series. Furthermore, 'the larger surface of the solid intermediate portion of the case, designated 8 in Fig. 1, will counterbalance the axial pull or strain in thatportion of the turbine containing the low pressure blades l0 because the steam from 'the intermediate or low pressure steam chamber 29 may affect the surface of the central portions of the solid part 8 by means of the circular channel 3021s such channel is in communication with the low pressure chamber 29 through the instrumeutality' of the cross passage 31.

As shown-best in Fig. 1, both parts A and B of my improved turbine have their exhaust passages connected together by means of the pipe or channel 32. Hence,

when only one part is working, the other is under the pressure of the condenser, and running in vacuo, has no loss from steam friction.

As stated atthe outset of this specification, one of the primary objects of myinvention is to provide means for automatically connecting the two parts A and B together, so thata double turbine unit may be developed. This result is accomplished by means ofa'valve 33 which controls the communication between the compartment C ofthe steam chest and the revoluble elesteam to pass through into-the part B through the port 25. The valve 33 is controlled and operated by 7 'means of a solenoid 34 which preferably has two coils,

to wit, one main coil, in series with the line (or taken from the secondary coil of a series transformer) and another coil in shunt. As the electric current increases, for instance, in load to a certain point, the series coil becomes energized and draws up the plnnger35 which is secured to the stem of the valve 33, thereby opening the valve 33 and admitting steam from the compart- As it is'incumbent upon the main governor 21 to regulate the steam pressure for both sides or parts A and B of the turbine alike, the valve 33 is designed to have only two positions, namely, fully closed or fully opened, and it is of such size as to allowthe steam to flow into the part B under full pressure thereby avoiding any throttling effect upon the steam.

In view of the fact that the magnetic pull is much stronger for a short distance'than a long one, the solenoid will release the plunger 35. again; under a heavier load than that which is necessary to draw the plunger up. Therefore, there is no point of load in which there 7 exists any unbalanced condition for said plunger.

The valve 35, as shown closes by its own weight, but it is manifest that a spring may be added if found necessary.

The shunt coil sary, the valve 33 may also be operated manually by means of a. hand wheel-36, as best shown in Fig. 3-.

g is provided in addition to the series coil in order that the valve 33. may be operated from a This hand wheel operates to raise the valve by being mounted with screw threaded engagement on the threaded portion of the valve stem, so that by turning the hand wheel down untilit strikes a lug 37 projecting.

"forwardly from one arm of the supporting bracket 38 and thence continuing the rotary movement of the hand-wheel, the valve may be raised. Under ordinary conditions, when this hand wheel is not in use, it

, him: may workup to an overload. Under overload,

with. corresponding increase of current, the solenoid 34 pulls the armature 39 downwardly. This armature is mounted upon the arm of a lever 40 fulcrnmed intermediate ,of its ends and spring returned as shown. The lever 40 is connected by moansof a pin and slot to the stem 41 of an over load valve 42 controlling two ports 43. These portsestablish communication between .the compartment 0 of the steam chest and the two passages having open communication by means of two ports 44 with the two channels 30 and 30. As

these channels communicate by means of the cross passages 31, 31 with the low pressure admission chambers merits of the part B, said valve when open allowing the 29 and 29, it is obvious that when the valve-42 is opened, high pressure steam will be admitted directly to the low pressure blades 10. As these blades are of larger size than thehigh pressureblades 9in view of the fact. that under ordinary conditions they work under half expanded steam, it is manifest that the turbine. may develop more energy and thus work iip to an over load, by the arrangement described, provided of course that. the valve 14 is of suflicient. size to allow this additional or extra steam, to How. f

The generic principles of myinvention are applicacrence is to be had to Figs. 4, 5, G, 7, & 8 of the drawings. Here the two parts A and B are substantially alike as to their revoluble andother interior elements, the case 1 being divided into two substantially equal parts as shown, bymeans of thecentral abutment or partition 8 0i the case, the shaft 2 extending through the ends of the said case. The steam chest 11, furthermore, is divided into the two compartments C and D, the latter beingconnected to the steam supply diate stationary the series of passages 26* pipe 13*. p sure chamber 26 by the opening of the valve 14 and the expanded steam escapes from the exhaust chambers 27 through the exhaust port 28", all substantially 1 like the construction heretofore described with respect I each part A and B of the turbine includes rotary blades to the reaction turbine. In thismodification,

and stationary blades 46 and 47, the latter being of nozzle formation as illustrated in Fig. -6, and the intermeportion of the turbine case, 8 is provided with an annular channel 48 communicating by means of cross passages 49 with the stationary blades 47.

' As best shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 8, the chamber 26 communicates or opens into the first series of blades for only a sectional part oi the circumference, thereof, by in cans of cross passages 26, whereas under certain conditions as will be herein after specified, the cross passages 49 also admit steam to the remainder of the first series of blades. The relative proportions oi the two series of admission channels 26 and 49, as to the numher and size of each series may be varied'according to the requirements of different installations, for instance, may include one-half or two thirds of the'circumference oi the first blades and the cross passages 49 the remainder of the circumference of the first blades in the series, and these two series of cross passages 2(i and 49 preferably alternate as shown best in the diagrammatic view, Fig. 8.

In the steam chest 11 is mounted thevalve 33 designed to control the admission of steam from the compartment G into the compartment B of the impulse turbine, and in said steam chest is also mounted theoverload valve 42, governing the admission of steam from said compartment 0 Valves like the valves 33 and 42 may be embodied in this modified iorm otjturbine of the impulse type, but for the purpose of illustrating another modification or embodiment of the invention I have shown the valves 33 and 42 which rotate to open and close their respective ports instead of raising and lowering, and which are operated by two independent electro magnets 50 and 51. The armatures nets are, as best shown in Fig. 7, connected by means of links 54 to arms 55 on the ends of the valve stems and are returned to their normal positions by means of springs 56. The, arms 55lmay be provided with handles 57 for manual actuation, and steadying pins 58 may be employed if desired.

W hen this turbine is workin g up to its normal load, the steam is admitted intg only a sectional part of the first blades, through the cross passages 26". Under overload, the valve 42 will be opened by this electro- The steam is admitted into the high presto the annular channel 48] 52 and 53 of these mag-.

magnet and steam will'be thereby admitted into the I annular channel 48 and thence through the cross passages 49 into the remainder of the blades circumference, so that the full force of the steam will be directed against the blades.

of operating together, and of being disconnected one from the other so that onealone may run, and that I have provided means in the regulating apparatus to accomplish this purpose, all combining to effect economies in the installationaud maintenance. For instance, in an electric plant, instead of using two separate turbo-generator units, both in parallel for heavy night load, and shutting down one unit at day time, my turbine may be used, as it will perform automatically, as before set forth, both day and night equally with the same degree of efiicicncy. It is therefore evident that the cost of my turbine will be much less than the cost of two separate units for the same work.

Having thus described the invention, what is .claimed as new is:

1. In a turbine, the combination of a driving shaft, 1W0 distinct revolublc element's mounted in common upon ,said shaft. means for admitting steam to one of said units. and means automatically governed by the load for admitting the steam to both ot,said units simullameously.

2. In a turbine, the combination of a case, a driving shaft journaled, tl1erciu,.thccasc being provided with an intermcdiatc-abutment or partition dividing it into two distinct compartments. a rcvoluble element in each of said compartments, a steam chest, one compartment of'which has open'communication with the first set of blades of one compartment of the case and has a valved communication with the other compartment of the case, moans, governed by the load, for automatically admitting steam to the said compartment of the steam chest, and means also governed by the load for controlling the valvcdcommunication between the steam chest and the said compartment of the case.

3. In a turbine, the combination of two distinct turbine unitswhich embody revoluble blades, means governed by the'load for admitting steam to both units simultaneously, and means for automatically admitting "high pressure steam to low pressure blades of both units, said last named means being actuated by the other means as setforth.

4. In a turbine, lrhe' combination of two revblublejelemerits embodying high pressure blades and low pressure blades, and a high pressure chamber communicating with the first blade of the high pressure series, and a low pressure chamber-communicating with the last. blade of the high pressure series and the first blade of the low pressure series, there being provided a passage communicating directly with the low pressure chamber at one end, a high pressure chamber, independent of the first namedhigh pressure chamber and communicating withthe said passage at its other end, and means governed by the load for automatically admitting high pressure steam to the second. mentioned high pressure chamber, for the purpose specified.

5. In a turbine, the combination of two distinct turbine units each embodying a revoluble element, a steam chest common to both units and divided into compartments, one of said compartments having open communication with one unit and a valve controlling, its communication with the one case, both'capable, by automatic regulations,

the other unit,.ineans for admitting steam into the saith 7o description in connection with common to both units and divided intocompartments, one of said compartments having open communication .with one unit and a valve controlling its communication with the other unit, means for admitting'steam into the said compartment, a solenoid, a plunger having operative con-- nection with the-said valve, the plunger being arranged to be moved by the energization of the solenoid, and means for manually opening said valve. l

T. in a turbine, the: combination of two distinct turbine units, each embodying a revoluble ele'ment,a, steam chest common to both units and divided into compartments, one of said compartments having open'communication withone unit and a valve"control ling its communication with the other'zunit, means for admitting steam into the said compartment, a solenoid, a plunger having operative connection with said valve,'the plunger being arranged to be moved by the energization of the solenoid, and means for manually opening. said valve, said means comprising a threaded valve-stem, a hand wheel havingl threaded' engagement with .said stem, and a stop for the movement of- 7 said handwh'eel, in one direction, substantially as described.

8. In aturbine, the combination ottwo distinct turbine units, each embodying a revoluble element, a steam chest common to both units and divided into compartments, one

of said compartments having open communication with one unit and a valye controlling its communication with the other unit, meansfor admitting'steam into the said compartment, a solenoid, a' plunger having operative con nection with the said valve, the plunger being arranged to be movedby-the energization of the solenoid, an armature also arranged to be attracted by said solenoid, and an overload valve designed to be actuated 'by the movement of saidarmature, the turbine units embodying both high pressure and low pressure blades, there being passages provided,torjdirectlyi admitting high pressure steam to the low'pressure'series of blades, the said admission of steam being" controlled by said overload valve. 1

9. In a turbine, the combination of two distinct turbine units, eachembodying a revoluble element, a steam chest the othernnit, the units embodying high pressure blades and low pressure blades and means-for admitting high pressure steam directly to the low pressure blades, said means including an armature arranged'to be attracted by simultaneously. j

'-10. In a turbine, the combination of a case, a driving shaftm'ounted in said case, the case being provided with an intermediate partition or abutment dividing it into two distinct compartmentsiwo distinct turbine elements each provided with blades mounted in common upon said shaft within the respective compartments of the case, and means automatically governed by the load for admitting steam to oiie of said compartments'or to both of said compartments '11. in a turbine, the combination of a case, a driving shaft journaled therein, the-case being provided with an intermediate abutment dividing it into two'distinct comp'a'rtments, a revoluble element in each of ,said compartments, each revoluble element embodying a series of high pressure blades and a series of low pressure blades, means automatically governed by the load for admitting steam to one of said revoluble elements. or to both of said revoluble elements simultaneously, and means also governed by the load for admitting steam directly to the low pres sure blades of both elements as well as to the high pressure blades. v

. 12. In a turbine, the combination of 'a case/a driving shaft 'journaled therein, two distinct revoluble elements mounted in common upon said shaft 'and'within the case.-

a'steam-chest, one'compartment of which has open comblades of the other 'revolnble element, means governed by the load for automatically admitting steam to the said valvcd communication between the steam-chest-andthe other revolublc element In testimony whereof I'ailix my signature in presence of -municatlou with the first set of blades of one revoluble ele- -ment; and a valved communication with' the first set of 

